25th Annual

The Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival is the premier American showcase for vocal harmony music. The annual national competition draws from hundreds of vocal groups from around the country with regional competitions in eight cities. The winning group from each festival is flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals.

Chi-Town Sound - Shelley Austin sings Tenor, which is the part above the melody - only audible to dogs and small children. Vanessa Tulley provides the melody as their Lead. Chris Dunham, as the Baritone, gets all of the leftover notes. Cathie Zimmerman lays down the Bass foundation for the quartet, honing her skills daily by “duetting” with her singing basset hound. Chi-Town Sound most recently ventured forth to Hawaii, leaving behind their love for all things frozen to compete with hundreds of other musicians in the balmy breezes of Honolulu…. such a sacrifice. They have since returned to their native land and are thrilled to partake in the 2009 Harmony Sweepstakes!

More For Your Money In today's economy, people tend to have less cash in their pockets. These guys are no exception. Short on cash, but not on talent! More For Your Money is Chicago's newest a cappella quartet! With a soaring first tenor, a soulful second tenor, a smooth, cool, baritone and a rockin' bass/rhythm section, combined with awesome arrangements, MoFoYoMoney makes you want to laugh, cry, clap, dance and sing along! Nowadays, every penny counts, right? Well, with a show like these guys put on, you know that you really are getting More For Your Money! How considerate!

Members: Sean P. Gorecki, C. Alex Juarez, Mathew Belcher, Chris Faye

No Strings Attached - One dark, stormy night in 1994, in the seedy underworld of the Champaign-Urbana streets, 9 undergraduates met in hopes of creating a group of superheroes to bring back the light of day to the University of Illinois. They stood for truth, justice, and most importantly: Jazz. -They were...No Strings Attached! Through their heroic musical dedication and general superhero sexiness, No Strings Attached has since captivated numerous audiences in need of their a cappella prowess across the country and beyond. Though they represent a variety of majors, the line-up of No Strings Attached shares a common bond-a passion for music-that they strive to reflect in any style they perform. Most of all, they stand out as a beacon in the silent darkness to make a cappella (especially jazz) accessible to (and enjoyable for) everyone.

Shircago - Shircago is Chicago's premier Jewish a cappella ensemble. They have performed everywhere from local synagogues to Philadelphia's Independence Square. Their high-energy performances and creative arrangements are accessible to audiences of all ages. Shircago has recorded an eponymous studio album and had one of its tracks featured on the recent Best Of Jewish A Cappella album. This is the group's third appearance in the Harmony Sweepstakes. They will be debuting two new arrangements tonight! Members: Danny Appelbaum, Jon Norton, Jan Slavin, Loren Shevitz, Amy Yassinger

Stripped - is a vocal band that continues to stretch ideas about what a cappella music can be. Their concerts are highly focused on improvisation, audience participation, and making music that moves the spirit. The voices gathered here have blend and unity, but frequently remind the listener that individual expression can flourish within the context of a group sound, like a single flower enhances the garden with its own particular bouquet and color.

Up 'Til 2 - Established in 2005 and named after late-night rehearsals, Up 'til 2 rocks out with unique style. This hard-hitting group of vocalists is indeed a "band." Minimally equipped with their voices and microphones, they cover low to high, and dazzle audiences of all ages. With backgrounds in classical voice, a cappella, rock, musical theater and jazz, each Up 'til 2 member adds a unique element to the band. Their blend of live music and theater will have you laughing to the sounds of current and classic radio hits, Motown, jazz, and funk.

Timm Adams is enjoying his sixth year as Assistant Professor of Music at Rockford College where he teaches private voice, music theory and musical theater workshop, conducts three choirs (including the a cappella scholarship group, “The Vocal Collective”) and musical directs the Performing Arts Department’s mainstage musicals. Prior to his move to Rockford, Timm enjoyed an extensive career in theater, both as an actor and a musical director, performing throughout the Southeast and Midwest in such shows as Hello, Dolly! (Cornelius), Joseph and the…Dreamcoat (Joseph), and Return to the Forbidden Planet (Ariel, the rollerblading robot). Timm is also the proud artistic director of the Chicago Chamber Choir, which he has conducted since 2000. Their spring concert series, entitled Music of the Isles: Songs from Britain and Ireland, opens on March 30th. . Timm holds a Masters degree in Vocal Performance from Baylor University and is thrilled to be judging this exciting competition once again!

Becca Kaufman is a sought-after jingle writer/session singer. Her character voices can be heard on many games and toys, from manufacturers such as Konami, Hallmark and the smash CD-ROM series “You Don't Know Jack”. Live performances have ranged from her critically acclaimed cabaret show “The Show Biz Kids” to “School House Rock Live!” to sharing the stage with performers such as Lily Tomlin, Brooke Shields, Phoebe Snow and Ellen Burstyn. Becca is the founder and executive producer of Singer Spotlight Productions, offering vocalists of all experience levels monthly showcase opportunities and educational experiences. Becca was the Executive Producer of “Music for the Heart”, a collection of original children’s songs benefiting The Children’s Heart Foundation. The album made it to the final round of Grammy considerations for Best Children’s Album. She co-hosted the relationship radio show, "I Do, I Do" for five years on WCKG, 105.9FM. Becca has been in high demand as a vocalist for many society bands and now leads The Becca Kaufman Orchestra (beccakaufmanorchestra.com).

Warren Kaplan is an original member of the a cappella group 4 On The Floor, which accounts for some of his most cherished and most enjoyable performing experiences. As a classically trained singer, he also performs with symphonies around the country, performing such works as Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Handel’s Samson and the Verdi Requiem. He will appear as bass soloist in Haydn’s Mass in Time of War with the Sheboygan Symphony, (Sheboygan, WI), this coming May. He also is a voiceover actor, with numerous commercials to his credit, including spots for McDonald’s, Sears, Coors Lite, Life Cereal and Pizza Hut. Some of Warren’s non-singing passions are abstract painting, drawing caricatures, bicycle touring and the outdoors. He’s thrilled to be part of this year’s Harmony Sweepstakes.
Brian Michaels has been involved in the world of a cappella music for quite a while. His first experience with an a cappella group was May 3rd, 1993 when he first saw The Blenders, and needless to say he was hooked. In 1997 Brian was working at an oldies radio station in West Fargo, ND and was searching for info on The Blenders when he stumbled on 2 websites: CASA and Primarily A Cappella. Over the next few months, Brian started contacting as many groups as he could, and in October of 1997, he started The A Cappella Hour radio show. Brian started with 29 CD’s. At this same time, Brian became involved with CASA as an ambassador. Brian has had his weekly radio show on five stations since 1997, with the longest being seven years. The show has been highly rated on every station. Brian’s Christmas special, "Holiday Harmonies" has aired across the country. Brian has judged the Denver Harmony Sweepstakes three times, and has judged the CARA's for over eight years. Now with a collection of over 1500 a cappella CD’s, Brian is very excited to be here in Chicago as a judge for the Harmony Sweepstakes.
Gary Stamm’s performance career spans more than forty years and includes musical theater, barbershop harmony, emceeing, radio-theater, television commercials, narration and a host of other media. He is a certified presentation judge with the Barbershop Harmony Society. Stamm emceed the first Chicago Harmony Sweepstakes and has judged the competition three times. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife Ruth.

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